KGMB cuts KHON's lead in Nielsen May ratings

KGMB-TV's local news beat KHON-TV again at 10 and continued to bite into KHON's lead at 5 and 6 p.m. during the May 2007 Nielsen ratings.

American Idol, on Fox affiliate KHON, was the highest-rated show in its twice-weekly time slots with a 26 rating, 43 share and was "the most popular program in the market," according to a station memo.

Both stations earned an 8 rating, 15 share from 7 to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 6 to 10 p.m. Sunday, but, "we beat them in total people (watching) 18-plus," so KITV can claim that win, said Mike Rosenberg, president and general manager.

KGMB's six-hour coverage of the May 12 Don Ho Tribute received a 13 rating and was watched by an estimated 85,000 people, according to a statement.

Its news win at 10 p.m. was its fourth in a row, and its growth in other time slots against long-dominant KHON reflects the commitment of the KGMB9 news team, said Rick Blangiardi, president and general manager.

The encroachment isn't a concern for Joe McNamara, president and general manager of KHON, where anchor Joe Moore commands the only 6 p.m. news show with double-digit ratings, and where the morning news program has more than double the ratings and, this time, triple the share of its nearest competitor, KITV.

"We're very happy with the rating book," McNamara said.

"We made changes, as you know ... and I think we got through them." He cited Leslie Wilcox's departure for PBS Hawaii, the addition of Kathy Muneno to the morning show and movement of Tannya Joaquin to the 5 p.m. news.

KHON's news has been beset by glitches of late, but a new system for the newsroom that will interface more seamlessly with other systems and should reduce problems once installed in September, McNamara said.